A topic TTA extensively covered from 2012 up to end of 2017 was long term brain damage created by repeated concussive, and likely sub-concussive, head impacts, culminating in chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which can only be diagnosed after death. Your Editor was privileged to attend presentations by researchers from Boston University (BU) and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU) in 2013 at NYC’s German Center for Research and Innovation and by BU’s Robert Stern, MD, at NYC’s MedTech in 2014 (indexed here). In time for the Big Game known as the Super Bowl is the timely release by the Boston University CTE Center... Continue Reading
Search Results for "chronic traumatic encephalopathy"
BU CTE Center post-mortem presentation on Aaron Hernandez: stage 3 CTE
This past Thursday, Boston University CTE Center director Ann McKee presented the specific findings of the brain examination of New England Patriots’ player Aaron Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez was serving a life sentence for murder when he committed suicide in his Massachusetts prison cell. The family donated his brain after his death. At age 27, his brain was determined to have Stage 3 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), with severe deposition of tau protein in the frontal lobes of the brain. Dr. McKee noted, “These are very unusual findings for someone so young”, stating that this level of damage usually... Continue Reading
CTE found in 99% of former, deceased NFL players’ brains: JAMA study (updated)
[grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/h_research_Figure-4.-Annotated-Normal.-Mild-CTE.-Severe-CTE.jpg” thumb_width=”200″ /]Updated for additional information and analysis at conclusion. In the largest-ever case study published of CTE–chronic traumatic encephalopathy—VA Boston Healthcare System (VABHS) and the Boston University School of Medicine’s CTE Center found mild to severe CTE pathology in nearly all of the brains of former football players studied. Jesse Mez, MD, BU Medical assistant professor of neurology and lead author on the JAMA study, said that “The data suggest that there is very likely a relationship between exposure to football and risk of developing [CTE].” The CTE is marked by defective tau (stained red in the brain... Continue Reading
Congressional investigation confirms NFL attempted to influence concussion, CTE research
Not shocking to our Readers. In December, sports network ESPN reported that the National Football League (NFL) refused to fund research on detecting in vivo chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from a long-term $30 million unrestricted grant to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) [TTA 23 Dec 15]. A 91-page report by Democratic members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, which started after the December reports, confirmed that the NFL improperly attempted to shape the research after the grant, violating NIH peer-review process policies that stipulated no grantor interference. The NFL specifically objected to the objectivity of Boston University’s... Continue Reading
NIH funds in vivo CTE research with $16 million–$0 from NFL; “Concussion” released
CTE research funded–and at a US theater near you Christmas Day In the run-up to the holidays, our Readers may have missed another gift to those concerned with brain health–the National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarding of a major grant to fund research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) to diagnose victims in vivo (while still alive). Awarded by NIH in conjunction with the National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke, the $16 million will go to researchers from Boston University, the Cleveland Clinic, Banner Alzheimer’s Institute (Arizona) and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Leading the team is Robert Stern... Continue Reading
TBI, early brain aging and a seismic analogy
...pseudobulbar affect (PBA). This article in the Genetic Literacy Project website works with an earthquake analogy: that there are P-waves (blast pressure) that compress tissues and disrupt neuronal communication, and in the long term accelerate brain aging and cognitive decline. Something sports injury, CTE researchers and research organizations within the military such as DARPA and DoD should be investigating. Hat tip to author and reader Dr Ben Locwin via Twitter. An abundance of related reading in TTA can be found in searches under TBI and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Also see our 2012 and prior archives for our writing on TBI.... Continue Reading
Possible early detection test for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
A research study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (US) presents the results of screening 14 retired professional American football players with suspected CTE. Using a tau-sensitive brain imaging agent, [F-18]FDDNP, the California and Illinois-based researchers were able to detect the abnormal accumulation of tau and other proteins, in the distinct CTE pattern, in the brains of living subjects who had received, during their playing careers, multiple concussions and head trauma. Of the 14, one had been diagnosed with dementia, 12 with mild cognitive impairment and one with no symptoms. Previous studies, such as Robert... Continue Reading
Testing the ‘blast response’ of synthetic bone
While protection against concussive and sub-concussive head blows that lead to brain trauma (TBI) and may lead long-term to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is being developed in several areas, by DARPA, US Army research, universities and the NFL‘s helmet providers, the final test has to involve cranial bone similar to those belonging to 20-30 year olds. Testing on humans is out of the question, deceased animal and older human crania are dissimilar and surgical implants do not react like real bone. The US Army Research Laboratory (ARL) along with university partners are developing synthetic cranial bone that behaves like real... Continue Reading
‘Brain Games’ on preventing, diagnosing sub-concussive brain trauma
Tuesday 13 May, presented at NYC MedTech-the NYC Medical Technology Forum, at Troutman Sanders LLP, Chrysler Building, New York City In a packed (agenda and attendees) two hour evening meeting, three presenters detailed the latest research on the clinical signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), along with new technologies for detecting it as it happens and diagnosing it plus monitoring recovery: Robert Stern, PhD, professor of neurology and neurosurgery at the Boston University School of Medicine and a leading clinical researcher on CTE (as our long-time readers know) ; Isaiah Kacyvenski, head of the sports segment of electronics designer MC10... Continue Reading
Further evidence of brain affect of sub-concussive blows
...in less than 7 percent of a normal population, McAllister said. Those performing worse exhibited more changes in the corpus callosum region of the brain — a bundle of nerves connecting the left and right sides of the brain — than athletes who scored as predicted.” Whether these changes reversed after the season was over was not in the scope of the study–an important factor in bolstering the validity of and preventing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in sports. HealthDay Previously in TTA: Quantifying concussion and sub-concussion, Contact sports, long term effects and CTE, Acknowledging the reality of TBI in sports... Continue Reading
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